🕑 3 min read

From Lucknow to Madrid: My MAEC-AECID Spanish Government Scholarship Journey at Complutense

By Priya N. (Kadamb Overseas alumni, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)

The Beginning: A Middle-Class Family Dream

I’m Priya N. from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Like many Indian students from middle-class families, I dreamed of studying abroad — but ₹50+ lakh USA tuition felt impossible. My family wasn’t rich. My parents had saved methodically for a decade hoping I could study somewhere “good.” I didn’t know just how good my actual destination would turn out to be.

Discovering Kadamb (and the MAEC-AECID Spanish Government Scholarship)

A friend of my brother’s mentioned Kadamb Overseas. I scheduled a free 30-minute consultation. Saumitra sir spent the first 20 minutes asking questions — not pitching. He learned about my CGPA, family budget, career interests. Then he said something that changed my life: “Have you considered the MAEC-AECID Spanish Government Scholarship?”

I hadn’t — none of my friends had heard of it either. Kadamb’s database showed me Indian alumni who had won this scholarship. I started believing it was actually possible.

The Application Journey

What Kadamb did for me:

• Profile evaluation against MAEC-AECID Spanish Government Scholarship historical winners
• Motivation letter coaching (3 drafts before submission)
• Letter of recommendation requests from professors (templates provided)
• Apostille + sworn translation coordination
• Application portal walkthrough (some are surprisingly buggy)
• Mock interview prep (intense but exactly what I needed)

The rejection nobody talks about: I was rejected by Sciences Po Paris (could not crack Emile Boutmy). Saumitra sir said, “Don’t be defensive. Use it to write a stronger SOP for Universidad Complutense Madrid (UCM).” That advice helped.

Family Disagreement

My family wasn’t initially sold. Father wanted USA “more prestigious”; mother worried about Spanish language. Saumitra sir personally got on a video call with my parents — he answered every concern with data. Showed them Kadamb alumni in Universidad Complutense Madrid (UCM). Showed them my career trajectory if I succeeded. They came around.

The Scholarship Win

When the scholarship result email arrived, I literally cried. Full tuition (EUR 4,500/yr) + EUR 1,000/month stipend + travel grant. My family hugged me. My total 2-year cost dropped to ₹16-20 lakh (vs ₹35L self-funded).

Cost Breakdown (Real Numbers)

Adjustment Difficulties (Real Talk)

Spanish bureaucracy (NIE/TIE/empadronamiento took 3 months); learning B2 Spanish in 6 months from zero. The first 3 months were harder than I expected. Indian community helped — I joined the local Indian Student Association in week 1, made friends, found Indian groceries and restaurants nearby.

Career Outcome

Two years later, I’m earning EUR 35,000 starting at UN Spain office. My career trajectory is better than 90% of my Indian college batchmates who stayed. I’m sending money home to my parents — finally giving back.

Why This Is Unique

Beat 8% MAEC-AECID acceptance rate (only 30-40 Indian winners/year). Now interning at UN Spain office.

Kadamb’s Role: Brutal Honesty + Strategic Vision

What separated Kadamb from other consultancies I researched:

• They told me to apply to scholarships I would have missed otherwise
• They gave me a brutally honest profile evaluation (no false hope)
• They coached me on motivation letters with multiple drafts
• They prepared me for embassy interviews with mock sessions
• They stayed in touch after I arrived — checking in, supporting
• The 47-point document audit caught errors I would have submitted

My Advice to Future Kadamb Students

1. Don’t dismiss “obscure” scholarships — they often have less competition
2. Be honest with Kadamb about your weaknesses — they help fix them
3. Apply early — scholarship deadlines are often 6+ months before intake
4. Trust the process — it works if you commit fully
5. Stay in touch — Kadamb alumni network is genuinely helpful post-arrival

Related Resources

• 40+ European Scholarships Database
• More Alumni Success Stories
• 14-Country Europe Comparison

Saumitra Rajput

Saumitra Rajput is the founder and lead counsellor at Kadamb Overseas, India's trusted Europe education consultancy based in Ahmedabad. With 14+ years of hands-on experience, he has personally guided 500+ students to universities across Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. Saumitra has visited partner universities across Europe, holds deep expertise in European visa processes, scholarships, and student life, and has achieved a 97% visa success rate for his clients. He is the host of the YouTube channel "Europe with Saumitra", where he shares first-hand insights on studying and living in Europe. His mission: make Europe accessible to every Indian student, with zero consultancy fees.